Vitali Klitschko, the last great heavyweight

[JAB5239]

How can Valuevs side of the story be entirely believeable? There’s two sides of all stories, and there’s just no way Valuevs story fits how I remember it back then. The fight was big, but Valuevs promoter (Sauerland?) was just not interested in losing one of their main cash cows. Valuev was always carefully matched and to my recollection never had a fight where he was the underdog.

It's believable becuse this isn't the only time we've heard of the K's using this tactic.

[BattlingNelson]

I don't think Timur Ibragimov was ranked, and I'm not entirely sure about Dimetrenko. But I'm fairly certain of the rest.

Which opponents is it you want replaced? After his comeback he fought the no. 2 hw on the planet equaling Ali’s comeback even though Vitali was absent longer and while being older. After that he fought the 2 no. 1 ranked contenders in his first year as a wbc champ.

[BattlingNelson]

It's believable becuse this isn't the only time we've heard of the K's using this tactic.

And surely it isn’t the only time you’ve heard of Sauerland protecting their cash cow? It happened again and again.

[JAB5239]

Which opponents is it you want replaced? After his comeback he fought the no. 2 hw on the planet equaling Ali’s comeback even though Vitali was absent longer and while being older. After that he fought the 2 no. 1 ranked contenders in his first year as a wbc champ.

First, this is a comparison to Z's claims of Louis not fighting other black contenders when he did in fact fight more highly rated fighters. My point being his double standard. Of the 11 eastern european fighters ranked by the Ring during the time Vits was ranked Vitaly fought ONE. Ironically many of Vits top 10 wins were against guys that came in the top 10 and quickly disappeared just as fast as they got in, but most of the eastern euros he didn't fight were in the top 10 for quite a while.

[JAB5239]

And surely it isn’t the only time you’ve heard of Sauerland protecting their cash cow? It happened again and again.

Valuev was already nearing the end of his career because of health issues. Seems more plausible, at least to me, that Sauerland would try to cash him out.

[Willie Pep 229]

I think, I may have posted this before - but it never ceases to be hilarious!

Can You Name a Country? - YouTube

No fair they moved the contents to opposite sides of the planet. Lol

[BattlingNelson]

First, this is a comparison to Z's claims of Louis not fighting other black contenders when he did in fact fight more highly rated fighters. My point being his double standard. Of the 11 eastern european fighters ranked by the Ring during the time Vits was ranked Vitaly fought ONE. Ironically many of Vits top 10 wins were against guys that came in the top 10 and quickly disappeared just as fast as they got in, but most of the eastern euros he didn't fight were in the top 10 for quite a while.

Ah ok. I missed the Louis implication and just responded to the stand-alone value of your post.

[BattlingNelson]

Valuev was already nearing the end of his career because of health issues. Seems more plausible, at least to me, that Sauerland would try to cash him out.

A fight between Valuev and a klit had been talk about for years and Valuev (Sauerland) had avoided it for just as long. Everybody who followed boxing knew that Valuev wouldn't stand a chance versus either klit, but the sales value of 2 eastern euro giants squaring off in western europe after the cold war was immense still. The risk for Sauerland that Valuev would end up being 'exposed' felt very real to me and that made them avoiding the klits perfectly alligned with german promotors behaviour in similar cases around that time.

[BattlingNelson]

It's believable becuse this isn't the only time we've heard of the K's using this tactic.

Really? It's the first time I've heard it. I know that k2 promotions normally required an option so that in case of a klit loss, the opponent would have to give a rematch or alternatively a fight with the other brother. Valuev talking about a seeming endless circle of rematches is something I've never heard of before and I wonder where you've seen it?

Sidenote: An option or 2 to the champions promotor in a titlefight contract is pretty standard as well know.

[Dr. Z]

First, this is a comparison to Z's claims of Louis not fighting other black contenders when he did in fact fight more highly rated fighters. My point being his double standard. Of the 11 eastern european fighters ranked by the Ring during the time Vits was ranked Vitaly fought ONE. Ironically many of Vits top 10 wins were against guys that came in the top 10 and quickly disappeared just as fast as they got in, but most of the eastern euros he didn't fight were in the top 10 for quite a while.

A fighter can't fight everyone who is ranked. This argument is silly, and you know it. I don't claim that Louis offered few title shots African Americans, I know this, and so do you. He hid behind the color line period. Vitali fought fighters from everywhere. All were over 200 pounds. Louis fought lost to three men under 200 pounds, and more with fair judging. By contast Vitali used no color line, and got zero gift decisions, which Louis did! He tried to get the re-match with Lennox Lewis. I think he wins the re-match, but Lewis who said he give the re-match on air and to the press folded when the money was up for the fight. Lewis balked. Your source for the 11 European guys are who and when could the match be made and offers for the fight are? Your list is laughable. Valuev was offered by Vitali and declined! Timor Ibragimov was not even ranked! Vitali fought and beat Kirk Johnson who was most certainly ring magazine ranked when he was is the question and Sam Peter ( raked #2 ) who of course both beat Maskev. The other fighters were either beaten by his brother, not ranked for long enough, or Vitali or quickly retired when he beat Wlad beat them. Read carefully what I said.